At Sun's words, the general stiffens, and Chung Ha openly scowls, stepping forward. "Preposterous," the advisor starts, speaking for the first time. "You would dare to presume you can--"

She is silenced by Yuqi raising a hand, a frown on her face. "Peace, old friend. You don't need to fear for my safety; with Lady Yuna here, there is hardly anyone in this city that could harm me." There is a very clear 'unless she wishes it' unspoken in the princess' words, but they nevertheless seem to have the intended effect, making both other women relax slightly with thoughtful expressions on their faces.

The general is the first to break the silence, "In that case, I will return to my duties." She salutes the princess, then bows to Yuna and leaves the room. Chung Ha seems like she still wants to protest, but finally sighs and relents. "Very well. I'll return to ou-- my quarters." She gives a bow in the general direction of everyone in the room, then leaves.

Yuqi leans back in her chair, massaging her temples. "Very well, we're alone now. Let's hear it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Tue 23 Feb 2021.

Yuna frowned slightly, puzzled at Sun-Ohm's request but smoothed out her expression. Was he going to reveal the ledger? Yuna had been hoping to hold that back until she was more sure that she could trust Yuqi to keep that confident from even her advisor and the general. Or was it something that he hadn't yet told her about?

Yuna allowed herself the hint of a sheepish smile at the implication in Yuqi's tone-- and the fact that of all the things she had come to excel at since her Exaltation, playing bodyguard was certainly not one of them-- and dipped her head in response to the princess. "Princess Yuqi will be safe in my hands," the Dragonblooded promised, making silent note of Chung Ha's slip. Push come to shove, she could always simply throw herself in front of Yuqi; her own regeneration should save her, unpleasant though that might be.

As the others filed out, Yuna turned her attention to Sun-Ohm.

Sun opens his mouth to speak, expression growing stern and ready to retort to the advisor's scornful tone in turn. He stops when Yuqi raises her hand, leaning back and letting himself relax. The broad man returns to silence as he waits for the two women to leave the room. When they are alone, and a few moments have passed, he again speaks.

"I have found at least one of your thieves," he says, raising a hand as if offering out this information. "She was a hand for hire in the underground, working to provide food for her family. If you were to regularly give me food and supplies for about a dozen people, I could remove her as a concern, and possibly get more information from her. More information about who she works for, and what she stole and why. And this, at least, could be settled peacefully." Eshin would probably happily supply Ohm with answers to whatever questions she asked, but improving the ratgirl's cooperation wasn't Ohm's motivation for asking for supplies, anyway.

"I also have a suggestion regarding your criminal element, in general, though it is far less peaceful. I know someone who can eliminate every criminal in the city and the port, with little risk of discovery." Sun delivers the grime statement plainly, and with an unsettling calm, considering he is suggesting the murder of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. "If you want to pursue that path, your approval is all I will need. No supplies, no payment, no papers. If not, I will do what I can to aid in the path you decide to take, and I will not speak of this again."

Yuqi leans forward, resting her chin on her hands as Sun speaks. She glances at Yuna when the steward is done, before leaning back again and shifting her gaze back to Sun. "Even if this thief's motivations were noble, she still committed several acts against the laws of this city. Are you suggesting that I not only forget these transgressions and let her go free, but also give her a continuous supply of resources? Why should I show this unprecedent mercy to this one individual and not to the others you've suggested slaughtering, many of whom no doubt turned to crime for the same reasons as your friend?"

Sun holds out his hands to either side in a shrug. "Because I like her."

Yuqi's eyes widen in surprise. Then, somewhat abruptly, she bursts out laughing. "Well. That is a refreshingly straightforward answer, at least." She turns to Yuna, wiping an actual tear of laughter from her eye. "What do you think of this plan, Yuna?"

Yuna's mind was turning with ways to try to mitigate the fact that Ohm-Sun had just suggested they rout the city's criminal element but not the one she liked simply because she liked them when Yuqi laughed. The Dragonblooded let her shoulders sag a little with relief that this hadn't been taken quite as poorly as it could have. She reached a hand up and ran it down over her hair. How serious was Yuqi being about going along with Ohm-Sun's plan? How serious was Ohm-Sun about 'getting rid of' so many people?

"Ah..." Yuna began showing, somewhat rarely, a sense of uncertainty. "Perhaps that's a tad extreme? As Yuqi pointed out, many of them may be in similar straits as your friend and I suspect a wholesale slaughter is... uncalled for and would not be well-received. Some rumors would start about it relating to the Dynasty or the Crown or else point to their inability to protect the citizens. Besides, there are certain advantages to leaving the majority of them alone, particularly if we have a reliable informant. Better the devil you know." And she would prefer not to simply order the deaths of some nonspecific number of people.

She cleared her throat, settling back into her usual, logical manner of working through things. "But getting one of the thieves removed from the picture and providing us with some insider information certainly seems like it may be worth the price of a pardon and a stipend of supplies, no?" Yuna asked, looking between Yuqi and Ohm-Sun. "Especially if she can reveal any... less-than-loyal elements among the nobility."

Yuna tapped a finger against her chin as she thought. "Perhaps remove the other thieves as well. If it is feasible, convert them like the one you have; if not... perhaps enact more drastic measures." Unfortunately, she suspected that holding phantom thieves for trial would not prove very doable. "And similarly plan to remove the elements responsible for putting pressure on the common folk of the city? Not the muscle themselves, but the ones responsible for those orders. Or else make it very clear that whatever bribe they're receiving to do so certainly isn't worth our ire." Yuna shrugged after a moment. "Or make them a better offer." Like she had said. The devil you know.

Sun's hands swing back around to clasp behind his back. "Very well, then, Lady Yuna. The individual I know can be used more precisely; I only wanted to make it clear the degree of their abilities. If you wish to us those abilities in any way, let me know." He glances towards the door. "Having covered these sensitive topics, I believe we can bring your allies back inside. No reason to say twice what can be said once."

Yuqi waves Sun's comment away. "The good general has duties to attend to, and Chung Ha is too hostile to be a useful voice at this moment. I'll talk to her later about that." The princess sighs and leans back in her chair, turning the conversation back to the plan. "As for the plan, I'm of a mind with Yuna. Even despite the possible social repercussions of such an act, I will not condone the wholesale slaughter of my people, even criminals. I have no intention of showing such mercy to the actual ringleaders of this operation, or to any of its members who are particularly vicious, but we have systems in place for dealing with run-of-the-mill criminals other than simply killing them."

The princess pauses, thinking for a moment. "That is not to say that this... contact... of yours could not be useful. There may well come a time when we have no options left, and overwhelming violence is the only solution... but I believe we are not yet at that point." The grimace on the princess' expression is proof of how much she does not want for the situation to get that far, but her voice is nonetheless determined.

"As for your thief, if you can assure me that her crimes do not go beyond what you've told me, then we can arrange for their cooperation. One can hardly be faulted for stealing from the rich to provide for their own family." The princess' expression hardens. "I will not, however, blindly trust the word of an unknown 'steward', even if Yuna trusts you. Before we can work out any arrangements, I would like to meet this thief myself."

Sun responds to Yuqi's first point quickly, his low, heavy voice still oddly flat. "To be clear, I'm talking about an assassin, not a tyrant lizard. I did not mean to imply that they were so capable as to purge a city of criminals in a night. More like... weeks to months?" Sun cups his chin, contemplating the dense warren of caves beneath the city. "I don't know that anyone could wage such a war in a single night. Especially if the criminals have magic." He waves the dark idea away. "Anyway, they could be a valuable tool if deployed more specifically, as well."

When Yuqi asks to meet with Eshin, Sun's expression does darken. His golden eyes fix on Yuqi's, watching her for a long moment. "Does the princess have the ability to move so freely as that?" he asks, not even really listening for the answer as he thinks. Finally, after stewing on it for a long moment, he does reply: "I will speak to her of this, and see if a meeting is agreeable. If not..." He lets out a huff, unsure how to finish the sentence. We'll get there when we get there, his silence seems to imply.

Yuqi's eyes widen slightly at Sun's response, the wheels clearly turning in her head as she slowly leans back again. "And is not assassination an act of overwhelming violence? I never implied anything else, nor said anything about a timeline."

As the conversation went on, Yuna was having more difficulty deciding whether or not it had been wise to bring Ohm-Sun along. He certainly had useful information and, apparently, useful connections. But he also suggested things like slaughtering the criminal underworld and brought up assassination some few minutes into a private audience with the princess. And it did not look as if this was going to be so easily brushed off as the slaughter remark had been. And wasn't that a thought?

Yuna cleared her throat, both trying to get the others' attention and trying to give herself an extra moment to gather her thoughts. "Right. So, one of our first steps, it sounds like, is seeking to arrange a meeting between this thief-informant of yours, Sun, and the princess. I presume you can begin working on that today and we can work on the particulars of how to proceed in regards to the thefts at large once we have that properly settled."

"Furthermore..." The Dragonblooded trailed off for a moment and turned her attention more fully back to the princess. "I realize that we've already asked much of your patience and understanding, Yuqi, but if I could ask something more? There is something I would wish to show you, but only with your word not to speak on it with anyone else-- General Fengxian and Chung Ha included." Yuna smiled apologetically. "I hope you will understand; a secret is best kept when known by as few people as possible." And she couldn't be sure who to trust yet, but she was somewhat explicitly working to help solidify the Crown's position, so Yuqi would be the least likely to do anything untoward.

Yuqi's eyes narrow when Yuna mentions keeping secrets from her general and advisor. "I can assure you, Yuna, that both the General and Chung Ha are loyal to the Alabaster Seat, and to me personally." She crosses her arms, looking sideways. After a moment, she sighs and uncrosses her arms, shoulders slumping. "But very well. I will keep this secret of yours, for a time at least. What is it you wish to show me?"

Yuna felt a reflexive twinge of nerves-- fear?-- as Yuqi narrowed her eyes, but didn't let it show. She was treading on a princess's patience, just some upstart scribe. But she was an Exalted Dynast now. Right. Why had she suggested parting from Momodi?

Yuqi agreed, however, for all that she seemed very tired by it and Yuna offered her a shallow, grateful bow. "Thank you, Yuqi. Again, I am sorry to intrude so far onto your understanding and trust. But, here." She pulled out the ledger, her own brief-- and admittedly messy and half-shorthand-- notes on the cipher. "Sun procured it. I'm hoping I might be able to compare the information in there to the list of stolen goods to see if anything shakes lose. ...And it does also imply that there is a third party which is looking to gain from the discord in the city."

"I hope you can understand, somewhat, my desire for strict secrecy now."

Yuqi's eyes narrow as she accepts the ledger and accompanying cypher, but then as she pages over both documents her eyes widen. "This... this could change everything." She shakes her head and glances up at Sun, "I'm very curious about how you got your hands on this. But at the same time, I'm not sure I want to know."

The princess takes a few more moments to read through Yuna's notes, then turns to the Dragonblooded once again. "This information will be of immense help. I understand your fears about my advisors now, given this 'Iron Boar' character, but rest assured that this conspirator is neither of them." She taps a finger on her chin, expression turning thoughtful. "I have my suspicions about who they might be, but I do not want to cast any hasty judgements. One could be discontent without turning traitor, after all, so it would be folly to just assume this mole is a vocal detractor of the Seat. Either way, this information confirms we have a traitor to look for, and other dangers besides. It will be invaluable in helping us fix this situation." Yuqi smiles, the ledger apparently injecting her with newfound hope.

Yuna felt her shoulders ease a little as Yuqi realized what the cipher was, some small tension gone now that the princess might not think Yuna was trying to pull one over on her. Now she just had to not think to hard about the fact that Yuqi had pointed out, that she should be much more curious and inquisitive about Sun-Ohm's means, methods, and intentions.

The Dragonblooded nevertheless felt a small, sincere smile curling her lip to see Yuqi looking genuinely hopeful. "Be that as it may, I'd still like to keep this between us, if possible. Secrets tend to get out one way or another, the more they're spoken," Yuna said. And she didn't know Yuqi's advisors so she could hardly render a judgement on how far to trust them. "But, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to know more about this detractor? Even if it isn't them, it hardly hurts to have a place to start."

"Secrets kept from your trusted friends also have a tendency to fester and create division, Yuna." The princess looks down at the ledger, then back to Yuna. "I can keep this from Fengxian for a while, but I won't keep such information from my chief advisor. The general can be a bit straightforward at times, and thus won't be too helpful in deciphering this issue anyway, but I will need Chung Ha's help to work through this." There was a sense of finality to the princess' words, and Yuna had the impression that it would probably be better not to push on this issue.

"As for the malcontent..." Yuqi sighs. "That would be Lady Xiaoqi. We used to play together when we were both children, but a few years ago her father suddenly passed away in a hunting accident and she suddenly became head of one of the wealthier and most powerful families of our nation. She sequestered herself for a few years in her estates, no doubt getting acquainted with her new role as family head. When she resurfaced in the Assembly, instead of the friend I remembered what I saw was a vicious, outspoken critic who took every opportunity to point out any failing of the royal family and chip away at the nobles' trust in us."

Yuqi rises, stretching and starting to pace behind her desk. "Luckily, Lady Xiaoqi remains supportive or silent when dealing with her subjects or the population at large. I've never seen or heard about her acting publicly against the Alabaster Seat, or criticize my family in any way. Behind the closed doors of the Assembly, however, she is the royal family's greatest adversary at every turn."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Yuna wondered rather uncharitably if it was keeping secrets from her advisor or from her lover that the princess objected to, but it hardly mattered either way. And it wasn't a particularly kind thought, anyway. Nor a constructive one. If Chung Ha and Yuqi were involved, as the advisor's prior slip had implied, then it would hardly benefit her to try to remove the Crown from power. And it's not as if you never got burned keeping secrets, right? Not at all.

To Yuqi, she dipped her head, acknowledging that she would defer to the other woman's judgement. On the one hand, the princess might be too close to see something right in front of her. On the other, she knew the situation and the people better than Yuna did. Yuqi was one of the most easily identifiable allies here, so it wouldn't hurt to offer her some trust in return. Probably.

"That is a somewhat... odd change. But I suppose several year is more than enough to change a person." Or replace them, came an unbidden thought as she glanced over at Sun-Ohm. A shapeshifter of some variety; was it overly paranoid to suppose the same might be true of Yuqi's once-friend? "Mm, circumstantial evidence is hardly proof, as you said, but it would seem at least somewhat in line with her mode of operation. Mm, criticizing you behind closed doors and staying quiet in public sounds like there's either someone on the Assembly she's trying to appease or she's not confident enough in her own level of public support or the Crown's lack thereof to attack openly."

"Maybe so," Yuqi nods at Yuna's train of thought, "or she could want to do a takeover while keeping the country at large strong. She is definitively crafty enough to attempt something like that; even as a child Xiaoqi had a keen mind. I had hoped she would be one of my strongest supporters when the time came for the two of us to assume our roles, but her father's passing must have greatly affected her."

The princess sighs, sitting back down behind her desk. "Either way, she does seem a likely suspect. Worthy of investigation, if nothing else." Yuqi pauses, thinking, then points to the ledger and cipher, "I will take these, and start crossing the information over in them with what we have gathered ourselves. If you're willing, it would not be out of place for you to meet with some of the noble families, and investigate them in the process." She glances at Sun, "I look forward to hearing from this thief friend of yours, as well."

Yuqi suddenly seems to remember something, turning back to Yuna. "Oh, actually. There will be a ball in a few days' time held by Lord Gaofeng. You should receive a formal invitation to it soon, if you haven't already. Gaofeng doesn't involve himself in politics much, but his family is wealthy and he enjoys throwing galas for the nobility. That would be a good opportunity for you to rub shoulders with the other nobles and pry into them a bit without arousing suspicion."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:39, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

As soon as Yuqi mentions her desire to keep the ledger, Sun's face grows grims. His yellow-moon eyes flick from the book the princess is holding to the woman herself. Last, his gaze moves from the princess to Yuna, staring at the back of her head and electing to defer to her decision. The book, Ohm knows, is important, but the nature of that importance is entirely outside of her grasp. She briefly contemplates if finding a particularly ancient scholar and eating his brain would fill her with wordsomeness, in the same way that drinking the blood of someone's heart gave her their shape. Perhaps there was some kind of brainish fluid that could be drank in blood's—

Noticing that Yuqi has looked towards him, Sun removes himself from his reverie, placing a hand over his heart and offering the princess a polite bow. "As you wish. I shall contact the thief. If they wish to meet, I will let you know of the terms."

Yuna hesitated as Yuqi made known her intent to keep the book, but that would probably be fine. She'd gotten a good look through the whole thing when she was taking down the cipher and making notes. She should be set to make her own copy of it from memory. If that was even necessary. And it might be safer not to keep multiple copies of the book around. And she'd just talked herself into showing Yuqi some trust.

The Dragonblooded's eyes lit up at the mention of a ball. The princess was right. That was a perfect excuse. "Excellent. So, in the meantime, we can continue studying the ledger and see what we find. Sun can attempt to arrange the meeting-- the sooner, the better."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Wed 14 Apr 2021.

Upon returning to her quarters, Yuna found, as promised by the Princess, that an invitation to the upcoming ball had been delivered. Along with the invitation itself, a short letter by Lord Gaofeng was present, the nobleman expressing a desire to meet the province's newest Dragonblooded in as flowery a writing as Yuna had seen anywhere in the Realm, though incredibly devoid of anything substantial; Yuqi was probably right in that Gaofeng didn't have a desire to involve himself in politics, and if his letter was any indication he truly was just an empty-minded socialite.

-x-

As Yuna goes about making preparations for the ball, Ohm makes her way to the maze of tunnels in the lower city, intent on making contact with Eshin. Due to her preternatural sense of direction, finding her way back to the ratgirl's refuge is no problem, the warren of tunnels proving no obstacle. As Ohm approaches the tunnel that leads to the hideout entrance, she finds a small group of Eshin's children sitting in a circle and playing some sort of game. Distracted as they are, they haven't noticed Ohm's approach.

Having released her Sunform shortly after sneaking back out of the palace and secreted her servants' clothes somewhere near to Eshin's hidden entrance, Ohm had enjoyed her six-limbed scramble through the winding passages that snaked their way down through the mountain. When, some time later, she arrives near Eshin's home, she makes no effort to hide herself. The many-limbed, many-tailed beastfolk emerges from a shadowed passage, her white fur catching the dim torchlight such that she seems to glow softly with a light of her own.

Ohm sits down, rather than coming too close to the children too quickly, and calls out to them, "Children! Is Eshin here?"

The children are startled by Ohm's sudden appearance, though they also clearly recognize her. They hesitate, looking at each other, before a girl, apparently the older amongst the children, steps forward and gives a decent approximation of a bow. "N-no, she is away for the moment." The girl starts explaining, clearly nervous. "But she should be returning soon! You can come in to wait for her, if you want... m-milady." The child gestures towards the abandoned house that holds the secret passage to their nest as she says the last.

Ohm follows the girl's finger, looking towards the hidden entrance and then back to the girl. The vaguely moth-like girl does not move, remaining sitting where she is. "You can call Ohm Ohm," she says in her monotone voice. "Waiting here will be fine. More safe, anyway." She says and does nothing else, sitting at the edge of the torchlight and waiting patiently, first for the children to return to their game, then for Eshin's eventual return. Her enormous, fluffy ears perk up, swivelling to catch every faint noise that echoes through the tunnels.